India is a perfect blend of culture, traditions and religion and just like we’d give everything to preserve the old monuments we contribute just as much to preserve the roots of our history via museums.
Delhi, the capital of India, is home to one of many top museums in the nation. Under this list fall some very interesting and unique museums that help citizens of this country adhere and learn how our ancestors conceded the foundation of what we could call civilization.
Delhi’s museums are said to be one of the best and most fun-filled ones in the nation. Even Russia’s president agrees with me on this.
He was quoted saying “The centuries-old history and culture of India, majestic architectural monuments and museums of Delhi, Agra and Mumbai have a unique attractive force.” Today, many don’t value museums as much, but what we must understand is that without knowing what our forefathers and their forefathers’ did to help development, innovation and culture will get lost.
In today’s article, we will cover the top museums in Delhi NCR, each one more unique than the other.
Here’s The list of Museums In Delhi:
1. Heritage Transport Museum
if you come to think of it, curiosity, determination and passion caused a man to develop objects making transport easier; be it for produce, material or man himself. In order to preserve the efforts of man, we have Delhi NCR’s Heritage Transportation Museum which is registered under the Indian Trust Act 1822. The Transport Museum is a non-profit organization which documents, exhibits, educates people about the foundation of objects that led to the beginning of transportation.
The aim of the museum is merely to showcase and educate the mass on the evolution of transportation in our country.
If you wish to give The Heritage Transport Museum a visit, you can find it off NH (National Highway) 8 in Gurugram situated on a three-acre plot. The plot is fairly well air conditioned and since it is a private museum, you can find countless galleries, a reference centre, conference room, restaurant facilities and a museum shop.
This is one such private museum that is being promoted vigorously by the heritage and tourism sector of India. The heritage and tourism sector offers an extensive curriculum based partnership with many government schools and other documentation programmes.
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2. National Handicrafts and Handlooms
The National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum, Delhi, also known as the crafts museum is a museum owned by the Government of India which honours the diverse, rich and practising crafts customs of our country.
You can find the museum Located in the heart of Delhi; Pragati Maidan opposite Purana Qila. What many do not know is that the museum was designed by none other but Charles Correa, one of India’s master architects and author of books like A place in the shade: The New Landscapes and Essays and Housing and Urbanization. he was also a proud owner of the Padma Vibhushan.
If you’ve heard of him and follow his work you will know how incredibly talented he was and what change he brought about for modern India. According to the latest reports, the museum houses a collection of more than thirty-three thousand specimens in various crafts acquired over a period of six decades from various states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh and so on.
Crafts from almost all states of our country can be found here at top-notch quality. Now, to elaborate on the collectables housed here, it’s safe to say you can find an array of artefacts like textiles, utensils, lamps made of metal, sculptures, paintings (tribal and folk paintings), and bamboo and cane crafts.
The list is an endless one but most importantly, a unique and divine one. Many visitors praise the exquisite textiles from different states; Naga Shawls, chanderi Saris and Himru textiles are some of their favourite collectables to look at.
You can visit the crafts museum in Pragati Maidan. The easiest way to reach here is via metro and is at walking distance from the metro station.
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3. Sulabh International Museum of Toilets
The Museum houses an odd collection of objects, facts and pictures detailing the historic evolution of toilets from 2500 BC to date. A chronological account of the development of toilets can be found here based on technology, social customs, etiquettes and sanitary conditions. The pictures present at the museum help one understand what the world looked like when water closets were not available. You can witness the change and even trace back toilets from the Roman Emperors or Harappan Civilization.
Though Indian households still face issues and acceptance issues of having toilets at home, the museum does accomplish a list of a huge number of daily visitors. In fact, the museum receives hundreds of visitors from India and abroad who draw inspiration from here.
The Toilet Museum has been awarded the Trip Expert Choice Award for the best attraction around the world.
Unlike any other award, the Experts’ Choice Award is distinctive in that it takes into account only reviews from expert travel guides, newspapers, magazines and other genuine sources.
Also Check: Top 10 Historical Places To Visit in Delhi With Family & Friends (2020)
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4. Delhi’s National Rail Museum 
Delhi’s National Rail Museum is India’s proudest representation of India’s own rail heritage. The museum offers both outdoor and indoor exhibits since 1977 and provides information about the history and development of rail in our country.
The indoor exhibits house many working and static models, furniture, information as well as photographs and literature to support the development of India’s railway. You can even catch a glimpse of our country’s very first rail model, a steam engine which indeed made its journey from Mumbai to Thane in the year 1853. This is said to be the major attraction in the museum.
You can also experience a ride in the joy train and monorail. Housed in chChanakyapuriNew Delhi, you can visit the museum on all days except for on Mondays and on public holidays. The timings are from 09:30 to 15:30.
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5. National Museum
National Museum of India is one of Delhi’s largest museums. It houses over 200,000 works of arts from local and foreign art. It covers over 5000 years of cultural heritage and houses a plethora of artefacts like paintings, arms, armours, archaeology and manuscripts.
Also, known as the National Museum of India, it is one of the largest museums in Delhi. Boasting of over 200,000 works of foreign and Indian art, this museum covers more than 5,000 years of worldwide rich cultural heritage. It is home to a plethora of departments such as archaeology, manuscripts, pre-history archaeology, paintings, arms and armour and much more.
You can find the museum housed in Janpath, New Delhi. The entry fee for locals is around INR 20 but higher for foreign nationals (around 600 Rupees). The Museum is closed on Mondays but open on other days except for public holidays.
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6. National Science Museum
National Science Museum is an integral part of NCSM or as others know it; The National Council science Museum. It is the first museum under this council which spans over four floors and is a hit among school children.
The museum pans out on eight floors wherein you can witness different science exhibitions, the history of architecture, heritage, dinosaur gallery, the Human Biology gallery, a Fun science gallery and so on.
There are numerous hands-on display systems that help students understand the law of physics. The attraction point here is the multimedia department. This department is loved by many kids and requires at least a full day’s time to enjoy.
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7. National Children Museum
National Children Museum in Delhi is a unique yet fun and educational museum meant to entice the younger audience of our nation by showcasing a plethora of toys, dolls, musical instruments and jewellery. The motto of the museum is to enhance creativity among India’s youth by holding regular creative arts workshops and classes. You can visit the museum in Kotla, sector 11.
The government of India recommends all schools to take their kids to this museum as it is the best way to help a child unleash his or her creativity, stay in touch with the roots of his culture and heritage whilst at the same time having some fun doing it.
The National Children’s Museum houses and showcases a vast collection of toys and dolls from different countries, different objects made from either bronze or stone, currencies of different countries and different instruments. The list just keeps on going on and on and on.
The highlight at the National Children Museum at Delhi is a place called the Children’s Creative Work Space which displays different pieces of arts by children. Sumer camps are also conducted here wherein a child is taught the foundation of art, theatre, music, painting, storytelling, puppets, costumes, and so on. You also have the benefit of avail
The museum complex also offers hostel facilities, sports facilities, a Science Park, an aquarium, jet fighter, functional mini train and the list goes on.
There are three main galleries one should know about and check out:
- Surya Gallery or the sun gallery is solely dedicated to the sun. The importance, significance and origin of the sun are explained here with a religious angle.
- Gaurav Gatha Gallery is a gallery that places its importance on past achievements, civilization, freedom fighters of India, legends of India and the struggle we Indians had to deal with.
- Hamara Bharat Gallery is a gallery that uses audiovisual mediums to display or showcase India’s culture, heritage, art, religion and so on.
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8. Shankar’s International Doll Museum
Shankar’s International Doll Museum is a large museum that houses a plethora of dolls. The museum was set up by K. Shankar Pillai, a political cartoonist who is also known as the father of political cartooning in India.
The museum is divided into two halves; the first being stocked with dolls from Europe, the US, New Zealand and Australia. The other half I dedicated to Asian or mostly Indian dolls. In the vast collection, you will find over 500 dolls dressed up in traditional Indian attire. A restoration clinic can also be found to maintain the doll’s appearance.
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9. Museum Of Folk And Tribal Art
Museum Of Folk And Tribal Art This wonderful museum in the heart of Gurgaon is known for its magnificent artefacts and its ability to give you a glimpse of the past. Many say the Museum of Folk and Tribal art is an undiscovered gem that needs to be disclosed as it houses a distinguishing tribal collection of folk art and other tribal art.
The museum was founded by renowned painter and sculptor KC Aryan in Founded in 1984. KC Aryan stems from a family of artists and his art is believed to be as natural as they come. The museum has long been overshadowed by other museums but thanks to today’s youth the Museum of Folk and Tribal Art is attracting young art lovers, scholars, academicians, historians and even foreign dignitaries.
You can find a vast collection of artefacts from all over the country but the highlights stem from Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan. You will find an array of bronze objects, tribal wood carvings; stone carvings, masks and some of them are over 800 years old.
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It is said when museums die out, that is when history and innovation die with it. Without Museums, kids won’t be able to learn about their heritage, their forefathers, art, music and what not. The extinction of museums will only mean the extinction of mankind. There are numerous benefits associated with museums such as educational benefits, cultural benefits and creative benefits. These three constituents together build the base of knowledge, innovation and ideas.
It is our duty as citizens of this country to help preserve and promote these museums. Our kids and their kids can learn a great deal and pass on the knowledge or come up with interesting ideas when they understand the roots of India’s artefacts development and technology.
I would now like to end this article with a quote from Hans Hacke. “Museums are managers of consciousness. They give us an interpretation of history, of how to view the world and locate ourselves in it. They are, if you want to put it in positive terms, great educational institutions. If you want to put it in negative terms, they are propaganda machines.